IHR
The Head of Operations of Kaduna state Muslim pilgrims welfare board, Sani Dalhatu Musa has revealed how they are able to mobilise pilgrims to camp within the stipulated time.
Speaking with Hajj Reporters, Sani said that the “boards were able to overcome the little challenges it encounters on airlift schedules because of their ability to ‘always put pilgrims on standby’.
“Every year, hajj operations have its peculiar challenges and this year is of no exception. We always marshalled our plans with a backup option to fall back to. For example, we invited a set of pilgrims to camp by 6 pm on Sunday hoping to airlift them to Saudi Arabia the next morning. When we discover that the schedule takes off time has been altered, we immediately demobilize them and asks them to go home and be on standby. Few hours after some of the pilgrims left, we got information that the flight will arrive at Kaduna airport by 6 am the next morning.
“We immediately pass information to those that left to return to camp and they all returned within 2 hours. This is because we have created what I term as interpersonal communication with our pilgrims. We did not only announce on radio, but we do also place a call to them and sends SMS to get across to them.
Meanwhile, 2,710 Kaduna pilgrims have so far been airlifted to Saudi Arabia. In a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of Kaduna State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Yunusa Muhammad Abdullahi, the 5th batch consists of 348 males and 181 females.
The statement however assured the states’ intending pilgrims to be patient as no one would be left, adding that the remaining pilgrims would hopefully be airlifted to Saudi Arabia this week.
So far, only two flights are remaining to complete the airlift to the Holy Land, the statement said, adding that total of 3,561 intending pilgrims are expected to perform the pilgrimage from the state this year.
